2002 Principals of the Year
Congratulations to our best...

   Dr. Kaufman opened Reservoir High School this fall and was the former principal of Mt. Hebron High School in Howard County. She is a graduate of Boston University with a Bachelor of Science degree, of Rutgers University with a Master of Education in Administration and Supervision, and of the University of Maryland with a Doctor of Education degree in Administration and Supervision. She began her career as a special education teacher at Hillside High School in New Jersey. She continued in this role at Shamrock and Lassiter High Schools in Georgia, at Chatsworth Elementary School in Baltimore County and at Mt. Hebron High School in Howard County. Her first administrative assignment was at Atholton High School in 1990 as an Assistant Principal. She was MASSP's Assistant Principal of the Year in 1993. She serves as Assistant Principal at Glenelg High School from 1993-1995 before being named principal of Mount Hebron High School in 1995.

   As principal of Mount Hebron Dr. Kaufman recognized that a small percentage of students were not achieving academic success and that it was incumbent upon her to point out the places where improvement was needed and to gain support for programs that would level the playing field for some of the minority and lower socio-economic populations. Work began with school leaders and various teachers to analyze data, brainstorm ideas, and implement programs that addressed the school's needs. As a result of this process a ninth grade wing was established. The ninth grade teachers provided tutoring and after school activities for students who were demonstrating academic difficulties, failing courses, and unable to participate in extracurricular activities. The school received a grant for the establishment of an alternative education program (Pathways to Success). The Pathways staff invited students to register for a daily first period tutorial class that focused on assignment completion, social skills, and organizational skills; keys to academic success. The coordinator met with his students and teachers daily, and he also met with students and parents regularly to encourage positive home-school communication and involvement in the education and extracurricular programs of the school.

   Two additional organizations were established to address the needs of a 16% Asian population, most of which was Korean. A Korean PTSA met monthly on Sunday evenings when parents were available to attend meetings and administrators and various staff members volunteered their time to meet with parents, disseminate important information, and answer questions. Parents from the Korean PTSA presented staff members with information on the Korean culture pertinent to the appropriate socialization and education of their children. Students in the Korean Translation Club worked with a faculty advisor to translate important school-related documents, including the PTSA Newsletter for dissemination to parents.

   An English Instructional Leader says, "I believe Dr. Adrianne Kaufman to be a gifted principal. She understands kids, believes in her teachers, and inspires and empowers all who work for her to develop into the best they can be." A parent says, "Her high moral standards and ethics, unwavering professionalism, yet compassionate response to individual crises reflect Dr. Kaufman's devotion to her principles as an educator, making her a role model for all." And her superintendent states, "Dr. Kaufman will open Reservoir High School, Howard County's 11th high school. Because of her thoughtful planning and utilization of resources, we are confident the students and staff 'All hit the ground running.'"

   Dr. Kaufman is a member of the Southern Region Education Board Leadership Network and served on the board of the Jewish Big Brother/Sister League. She has presented at the CEASOM Invitational Conference and served as chairperson for the K-12 Administrators' Professional Development Programs in Howard County. She has been an MASSP/NASSP member since 1990.

   Finalist in the program was Ms. Connie Lewis. Ms Lewis is principal of Atholton High School in Howard County.

   Mrs. Rudolph earned her Associate of Arts degree from Harford Community College and her Bachelor of Science degree from Towson University. She received her Master of Education degree from Loyola College. She began her teaching career in secondary schools in Cecil County at Perryville High School, Cherry Hill Middle School, and North East Middle School. She taught for nine years at Calvert Elementary School before becoming an Assistant Principal at Bohemia Manor High School, followed by Bohemia Manor Middle School and Perryville Middle School. She was named principal of Perryville Middle School in 1998.

   "Survive and Thrive" has been the motto at Perryville Middle School and her own personal maxim for the past four years. As a new principal who survived thirty-five new teachers in a short period of time she needed to develop a program that would bring the staff together as well as provide the professional development required by new, inexperienced teachers.

   To cultivate team bonding, she developed a survival program to begin with the first professional day of the year. Staff dressed in island wear and competed in physical challenges to earn points for their team. Teams continued to earn points throughout the first semester for academic reasons, participation in the character program, or just for fun activitites. The winning team earned a full day of planning together while the administrators took the whole team of students on a field trip.

   In addition to the morale aspect of the faculty coming together, she knew they also needed to understand and have the same level of professional knowledge of academic expectations. The data showed that reading was an area of concern. Team planning time was used to first answer reading stance questions and score each other's work. She made certain that she was there beside her staff every painful step of self-reflection. They then looked at model state answers and did rewrites. After they felt comfortable with their level of understanding, they developed two school-wide benchmarks that continue to be given annually. They have progressed to inviting the high school teachers to sit in on the scoring sessions in order to provide a continuity of expectations. Their more recent MSPAP scores showed a gain in the area of reading. She feels confident that they have not only bonded as a staff but are truly on the right road to quality instruction.

   Her superintendent, Carl Roberts says, "Mrs. Rudolph is the instructional leader in name and by practice through her day-to-day performance. She is able to prioritize this responsibility because of the detailed planning and preparation in what many call administrative areas. Through this planning and delegation, normal procedures run smoothly and periodic crises are dealt with in a calm and deliberate fashion. Again, Mrs. Rudolph refuses to let any distraction interfere with the learning process."

   According to Michelle Kaye, "Mrs. Rudolph is more than just a Principal. She is a true educational leader. Anyone who works with, has worked with or has middle school aged children knows that it is a difficult time for young adolescents. Being principal of a middle school full of students facing important changes and decisions, dealing with new levels of maturity, and also learning curriculum that is new to them, takes a special kind of skill and grace. That is exactly why Mrs. Rudolph is my choice for Principal of the Year."

   Mrs. Rudolph has served as a facilitator of the Principals' Institute of Maryland, was a member of the Visionary Panel Leadership Task Group and has presented at both NASSP and MASSP as well as the National Middle School Association and the Maryland Middle School Association.